Public comments preceding a closed session of the Berkeley City Council Monday night were limited. Photo courtesy City of Berkeley Expectations that many members of the Berkeley community would turn up at the public comment part of a closed session of the City Council Monday night to express their views on the recent incident concerning Berkeley Police Chief […]
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Posted inCity
Berkeley’s Mayor lays groundwork for reelection bid
Bates: "I will make an announcement in the next couple of weeks." Photo: Lance Knobel Mayor Tom Bates this week filed the necessary campaign finance forms that would enable him to run for reelection this November. “I had to file the report, but I’m not officially running for reelection,” Bates told Berkeleyside. “I will make […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley to reassess Wells Fargo, open account to bids
The City of Berkeley will look at switching its account out of Wells Fargo. Photo: Lance Knobel Last night Berkeley’s City Council voted unanimously to review its banking arrangements with Wells Fargo when the current contract expires at the end of 2012. This followed a recommendation by councilmembers Jesse Arreguín and Darryl Moore to consider alternatives to the 160-year-old […]
Posted inCrime & Safety
Local towing company spotlighted in parking ruckus
A man believed to be a Hustead's employee removes handmade signs about parking in the Trader Joe's neighborhood in downtown Berkeley By Linda Hemmila Residents and workers in the area surrounding Trader Joe’s in downtown Berkeley allege that a local towing company under contract to the city is removing signs made by neighbors to warn […]
Posted inCity
City Council looks for new Berkeley meeting space
The City Council currently meets in the Maudelle Shirek building but is looking for new meeting space. After looking at 11 possible locations to hold future City Council meetings, Berkeley city staff is recommending that the council select between the auditorium at Berkeley City College, the multipurpose room at the North Berkeley Senior Center, and […]
Posted inCity
City looks to tackle noise issue from news helicopters
It's been a news-heavy few months in Berkeley recently with an unusually high number of media helicopters taking to the skies The city government will consider taking action on the issue of the noise pollution caused by news helicopters with councilmember Jesse Arreguín (district 4) bringing an item to the consent calendar at Tuesday’s City Council meeting […]
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Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: The exit interview
Former city manager Phil Kamlarz, just before his retirement Phil Kamlarz, city manager for eight years and a city employee for 36, retired this month. He first became a Berkeley city employee as a temporary associate accountant in the Berkeley Public Library in 1975, and a year later transferred to the city manager’s office. He […]
Posted inCity
Average Berkeley street in at-risk condition, many worse
Cracks that lead to constant potholes on Dwight Way at Telegraph. Photo: Tracey Taylor According to a report from the City Auditor presented to the City Council last night, the average Berkeley street is in “at risk” condition. As the report, “Failing Streets,” details, as street condition deteriorates, the cost of paving increases rapidly. “Berkeley […]
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Are Blackberries best bet for Berkeley in emergencies?
The city of Berkeley’s executive team, which includes all councilmembers, department heads and senior managers, relies on Blackberries to communicate with each other and externally The city of Berkeley’s executive team, which includes all councilmembers, department heads and senior managers, relies on Blackberries to communicate with each other and externally On Tuesday, October 11th, at […]
Posted inCity
Call for alerts (and fewer tickets) on street sweeping
Neighborly reminder of street sweeping at Hearst and Milvia put up in April last year. Photo: D.H. Parks If you own a car in Berkeley there’s a high chance you will have experienced the frustration of being ticketed, or even towed, for being parked in the wrong place at the wrong time on a street-sweeping […]
Posted inCity
City Council tackles housing development downtown
“Downtown” area expanded under Measure R “Downtown” area expanded under Measure R By Judith Scherr With the passage of Measure R last year, Berkeley voters set the stage for a taller, denser, greener downtown. While developers will be allowed to build one hotel and two residential buildings of 180 feet, a couple of office buildings at […]
Posted inCity
Students submit first 2011 city redistricting proposal
Stephanie Phonvongsa explains the redistricting proposal to a gathering audience. Photos: Robert Mills By Robert Mills Nine students met on the steps of Old City Hall Tuesday to submit their redistricting proposal to Berkeley City Council. Their pitch came early in the game – with the deadline for initial submissions agreed at last night’s council meeting […]
